Onze katten 1903 - 1910

Editor: This is "Onze katten," or "Our Cats," a cyanotype photograph by Hendrik Doijer, made sometime between 1903 and 1910. The blue monochrome gives the whole scene a dreamlike, almost ghostly, feel. It looks very painterly to me - what do you see in it? Curator: Indeed, the cyanotype process lends an ethereal quality. Notice how Doijer utilizes the photographic medium to its fullest potential; it isn't simply documentation. The tonal range, while limited by the process, offers subtle variations that define the shapes and textures. How do you view the placement of objects? Editor: I see two cats are carefully arranged on a table covered with cloth, contrasting shapes. The details get blurrier deeper in the background: the blurry silhouette of a person behind the kittens almost makes her like a ghost... Does that lack of definition mean something? Curator: The artist manipulates focus, leading the viewer's eye deliberately. This hierarchy invites contemplation, where specific elements, the cats most of all, are highlighted. One cat laying serenely, contrasted against another with high alert is quite unique as well. Does this pose of both animals together seem unbalanced to you? Editor: Yes, but perhaps intentionally so? The angles throughout the work create strong diagonal lines of sight for both kittens! And also adds a dynamic tension that prevents the image from being too static. Curator: Precisely. Tension achieved through composition serves to activate the viewing experience, to force interaction with its formal mechanics. Through his choice of viewpoint, his approach to lighting within the bounds of the cyanotype method, Doijer guides the observer toward engagement with his subject. The question is now, what effect does this photograph have in how it guides our eye? Editor: Now, looking closely I find a fresh appreciation for the control Doijer exercises, even within a seemingly limited process! Curator: Yes, and understanding its form certainly enriches our experience, no?